ettac

I work in a small rural hospital. Our EHR is probably not the best. It forces a "default" physician name to be permanently entered and then the ER provider is required to change it before entering orders on each new ER patient. When the ER provider forgets to change it (this happens very often), it somehow became the job of the RNs to go through daily and "move" the orders to the correct provider. Is this even legal? I feel it is very obviously the provider responsibility and that forcing the RNs to fix their orders is not legal. Basically the RNs are complying with orders under a fictitious default provider name..., and then in hindsight, they want us to "fix" their omission.

The end to my long saga- I finished the "program" that was offered to keep me from going before the BON. Passed all 18 random drug tests, jumped thru all the hoops and got my letter stating that everything is complete; nothing showed up. I know most people will not agree with me, but I am really tired of all this and I'm not thrilled about proceeding with legal action against the large hospital where all this started. It could drag on for years. Through it all, I worked full time as an RN with no dings to my license. I know I am innocent. I proved I am innocent and I hope this never happens to any nurse.

I agree it is the worst thing that could happen to anyone with a nursing license. The statement "I'm going to do this" means I am going to comply with the random drug tests for a year, When that is over I will decide what to do next.

Update- I've heard nothing since my last post until now.. Via my attorney, the BON has decided that if I can pass random drug tests from an external site (not board affiliated) for a year, this case is closed and will never show up on my record( and I don't have to meet with BON). So of course I'm going to do this. I could tell you a few things my husband has to say about this offer , but I'd rather peacefully clear my license, and then I might listen to him.

Thank you. What I was wondering is how swing bed hospitals are assigning work duties to cover the extended MDS. Up till Oct. 1, we have had a 2 page MDS and 1 person could easily handle it. The changes for us are quite extensive. If anyone from a swing bed will share their plans for 3.0, I would appreciate it. My back ground does include MDS-coordinator at a nursing home, so the long form is not foreign to me (thank heavens).

Are there any MDS coordinators out there who work in swing bed hospitals? Many of the changes pertain to swing beds too and I can't find much, if any information on this.

I would not limit myself to pediatrics, even though you choose to work with peds at this time. FNP gives you more choices in the future. And you know- things in life do change with out notice. You may as well be prepared.

If you had the choice between Thesis I and II, OR EBP I, II, and III, what would you choose?

When I went to nursing school 15 years ago, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do either. The good thing about nursing is that you will have many options. Because I had 4 kids under 7 at the time I graduated, I took a very flexible hours job at a skilled nursing facility. I thought I would hate it, but I did what I had to for the family, and really enjoyed it. Because of that job, I received training as Medicare Coordinator. I now travel from one hospital to another on my own schedule, completing their swing bed assessments and making more in half a day than I did in 2 days working bedside. So keep your mind and your options open. There are many other things to do than bedside nursing if you dont like that. One of my RN friends is a pharmacy rep. She loves it. Even though we all have to pay bills, finding your niche and enjoying it is most important

I work in 2 rural hospitals. There is a lounge near the nurses station at both hospitals, and the PA or NP on duty sleep whenever they have a chance. You are right when you say you're not a bedside RN. It is legal for you to sleep in between patient. It promotes patient safety because you will not be exhausted. I'd find a job where the staff could determine the difference between a nurse and a nurse practitioner. Furthermore, since it is a small town, one of our PAs lives in town; about 3 blocks away. He goes home in between patients. Are they going to tell him that he can't sleep??

Unfortunately LTC is the most regulated industry in the nation. I was DNS at one for 7 years and every T must be crossed and i dotted, or the state inspectors will eat your lunch. I was told that standing orders are not legal (maybe states are different?) so we wrote every conceivable OTC as a prn on admission orders. This covers 90% of what you have to call the doctor for. Otherwise, I would call. Better safe than sorry.

Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX has a FNP program that is all online and is reasonable- about $2000 per semester and half that in the summer. It's 6 or 7 semesters long (including summers).

What are the most unusual or interesting NP jobs you've heard about, or maybe you're working in one? I'm in the middle of a FNP program and want to look at all options.

Look in your local area for this program. Make sure the program is NLN accredited. Most of the brick and mortar colleges have many of their classes online. Then you at least have a contact person or place to go to if you need to talk to someone in person

Hi, you must call the doctor and tell them Mrs. so and so is coughing. If the doctor orders a cough med, you then write the order and sign it; T.O. Dr.____/your name, LPN. When the doctor makes rounds they must sign all of these orders. You can not just decide someone needs a medication and write an order without contacting the doctor first.